Three days later. Nox stood in front of the labyrinth administered by the royal family of Akor.
“A competition huh…?”
Wearing shiny leather armor and a new sword, along with a bow on his back, Nox sighed resignedly.
There was a lot of commotion around Lano, who was a little further away.
“Let’s go, Lano-sama!”
“With Lano-sama’s sword skills, this labyrinth will be easy!”
The servants, who were allowed to choose up to three people each, cheered loudly. Although Lano was not one for excessive flattery, he simply smiled tightly.
Despite so many eyes on him, no one noticed the slight hint of sadness on Lano’s face.
On the other hand…
“Well… I must admit that my lack of popularity is like a blessing.”
I had no intention of addressing anyone, seeking admiration, or having companions. However, as if there were an invisible wall surrounding me, the only person by my side was…
“Nana, shouldn’t you go there?”
Nana, with her usually impeccably tied intense red hair, had it in a ponytail today.
“Lano-sama already has enough staff.”
Her obsidian eyes, that seemed to absorb you, showed a calm expression as usual.
As she mentioned, Lano’s attendants were always vying for positions.
In the Kingdom of Akor, only men had the right to inherit the house. But somewhat mundanely, it was expected that women, by supporting higher-ranking nobles, would become servants to the masters or sons, establishing connections with their families.
With the increasing demand for women’s rights and freedom, these customs were gradually changing, but the situation in the House of the Duke of Galaxia was different.
“Lano-sama! Would you like to have some tea?”
“Lano-sama, your tie is crooked! Let me fix it for you.”
“Lano-sama, here are some sweets sent by your family. Enjoy them on your journey when you feel tired.”
After all, Lano was a top-tier product in every way: looks, personality, skills, and lineage.
Any slight favor he showed towards a woman would eventually lead her to become the wife of a duke with power almost equal to that of the royal family in the country.
Therefore, the young maids always went out of their way to impress him, although Lano was not entirely interested.
Amidst all that, Nana, cold and with little ambition for promotion, always kept her distance from that group and approached me. She could practically be considered the exclusive maid.
“Are you sure you want to come with me?”
Instead of her usual maid uniform, she wore sturdy fabric pants, like those worn by adventurers who hunt monsters and conquer labyrinths.
“Lano-sama wants me to make sure you don’t do anything foolish.”
Although it was strange for Nana, someone who avoided trouble, to offer herself as a maid to someone troublesome like me, I was amazed that it was all part of my overprotective younger brother’s plan.
“Even though it’s a simple labyrinth, there may be danger.”
“I can defend myself.”
Indeed, the servants of Galaxia received training to become fighters in case of emergencies. As she mentioned, beneath Nana’s usually hidden long skirt were well-developed practical muscles.
“Accompanying someone troublesome like me can lead to serious consequences.”
“If that happens, I’ll be prepared for the worst.”
Nana’s stubbornness and bravery were known to all, as she took care of me without worrying about the gossip around her. When she made a decision, there was no turning back.
“Since… In that case, make sure to be very careful.”
“I will strive not to be a burden to Nox-sama.”
I proceeded to check Nana’s equipment again, thinking of any missing gear I could provide.
“This weapon is useless, it will only be a burden, so… a short knife will be sufficient.”
“I can only use magic to intimidate, but I have prepared healing potions, bandages, and also an offensive spell scroll just in case.”
Nana opened her waist bag to display its contents. Even though I did not consider her a combat force, she made sure to have tools to protect herself and take care of herself in case of injuries.
“So, are we ready?”
Honestly, I’m a bit surprised by Nana’s appearance; it’s very different from the usual, even her body looks more toned than I imagined.
Oh damn, she noticed that I was watching her… I better look away.
***
As it was Lano’s first foray, the empty space in front of the labyrinth felt more like a party.
“It’s time.”
Edwin’s resonant voice, clearly audible even without shouting, quickly heightened the tension.
“This day is very special, two people will undergo the coming-of-age ceremony at the same time. If one of them cannot obtain the core but reaches the deepest part, it will be considered that they have met the requirements for the coming-of-age ceremony.”
With those words, the atmosphere suddenly stirred. The servants mistakenly assumed that Nox’s brother, who had not obtained the core, would be stripped of his right to the throne.
“Both of you, do your best. Now, take your positions.”
Following the instructions, Lano and Nox stood in front of the labyrinth’s entrance.
“Ready, go!”
With the order from the father holding a clock in his hand, both, with heavy steps, entered the labyrinth.
